Cape Route and Arctic Route should be monitored from the perspective of hypothetical alternatives to Suez.

The African route via the Cape of Good Hope (already used during the pandemic period) connects to the strategic routes to the Mediterranean and Northern Europe with an additional 7-10 days' sailing, forcing carriers to bear the associated costs in terms of fuel, bunkering and delays in delivery of goods.

The Arctic Route could meet some needs in the future, but it is still a seasonal route, albeit one that is experiencing strong growth.

The lack of real alternatives makes Suez a doubly strategic hub.